The Radical Center

In his recent New York Times column, titled Third Party Rising Thomas Friedman says:

"There is a revolution brewing in the country, and it is not just on the right wing but in the radical center."

I like the idea of a radical center and think that the idea of a third party rising like a Phoenix from our current day political ashes could resonate with many like me who have left the extremes of political radicalism and are seeking something else. Here are a few clips from Friedman's Column:

I continue to be astounded by the level of disgust with Washington, D.C., and our two-party system — so much so that I am ready to hazard a prediction: Barring a transformation of the Democratic and Republican Parties, there is going to be a serious third party candidate in 2012, with a serious political movement behind him or her — one definitely big enough to impact the election’s outcome.

There is a revolution brewing in the country, and it is not just on the right wing but in the radical center. I know of at least two serious groups, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, developing “third parties” to challenge our stagnating two-party duopoly that has been presiding over our nation’s steady incremental decline.
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The best our current two parties can produce today — in the wake of the worst existential crisis in our economy and environment in a century — is suboptimal, even when one party had a huge majority. Suboptimal is O.K. for ordinary times, but these are not ordinary times. We need to stop waiting for Superman and start building a superconsensus to do the superhard stuff we must do now. Pretty good is not even close to good enough today.
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We have to rip open this two-party duopoly and have it challenged by a serious third party that will talk about education reform, without worrying about offending unions; financial reform, without worrying about losing donations from Wall Street; corporate tax reductions to stimulate jobs, without worrying about offending the far left; energy and climate reform, without worrying about offending the far right and coal-state Democrats; and proper health care reform, without worrying about offending insurers and drug companies.

I agree with Friedman and especially agree with his final thought:

We need a third party on the stage of the next presidential debate to look Americans in the eye and say: “These two parties are lying to you. They can’t tell you the truth because they are each trapped in decades of special interests.

I think that the idea of a third party rising and its candidate winning the presidential vote is a long-shot for sure. Yet I do dream of a nation not ruled by special interests and able to deal with the financial issues pressing us all about. Maybe a dream is all that we need?

How about you? Would you seriously consider a third party presidential candidate?